For all things related to the Aussie gardens. Plants, lawns, ugly fences, bare patches.
Please follow the instance rules and keep discussions civil and respectful.
I've had a bonsai for at least half a decade, its grown, i feed it every so often, i never tried to shape it or do anything with it. I'm just glad its survived me this long, but i like the plant. I keep it above the sink so its really in my face to remind me about it. Long story short, i suppose you can be a really lazy bonsai owner, but in my defence it was a gift.
I appreciate this comment is likely wide of the margin on the 'helpful' front, sorry.
It does help to see that maybe it’s only as difficult or high maintenance as you choose to make it
I've had one for a few years and unfortunately it suffered some damage during summer for two of those years. For bonsai that is not the end of the world if anything it gives it character.
For most of the time I leave it alone and just make sure it is watered. I haven't started shaping it because that damage meant I needed to cut back the limbs so they could regrow. If a branch snaps it snaps just trim it back it can regrow. I see bonsais as a very long term project so a small setback isn't the end of the world.
Survival of course it will depend of the type tree I'd say getting one that is used to the climate you are in will help reduce the maintenance and cost.
It terms of cost I have just used a herb trimmers to prune it and the wire for shaping isn't that expansive. Also if you get a small one you won't need to start shaping for a couple of years.
I got mine from this place and they have some great tutorials to give you an idea. https://bonsaibay.com.au/pages/tutorials
But definitely worth talking to a bonsai seller for some even better advice but overall it isn't that expensive unless you really want it to be.
Thanks, I’m more on the cheap and cheerful side!